John Terry has been included in the Chelsea team to face Tottenham Hotspur
England captain John Terry was included in the Chelsea team to face Tottenham Hotspur in a Premier League match at White Hart Lane on Thursday just a day after being hit with criminal racism charges.
Terry is to be tried for a “racially aggravated public order offence” following allegations he racially abused Queens Park Rangers’ Anton Ferdinand during a match at Loftus Road on October 23.
Now Chelsea skipper Terry is due to appear in court on February 1, with a guilty verdict likely to see him stripped of the England captaincy.
However, Terry has vowed to fight the charge and said Wednesday: “I have never aimed a racist remark at anyone and count people from all races and creeds among my friends.
“I will fight tooth and nail to prove my innocence,” added the 31-year-old.
Chelsea have been steadfast in support of central defender Terry and it was always expected he would play in Thursday’s London derby, even after prosecutors announced they were bringing a criminal charge against him.
The Crown Prosecution Service move regarding Terry came a day after the Football Association handed Liverpool striker Luis Suarez an eight game-ban for racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra during a match in October.
Victory for Chelsea on Thursday will see them replace Tottenham in third spot in the Premier League table.
©2011 AFP